bedesisters

Update on Baby Goats

2012-02-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

My daughter is a great goat sitter. The babies love her and snuggle up whenever she holds them. Here she is, checking on one of the little girls.Both of our babies are doing well and have been springing around the pasture. I think they are going to be best friends!

Baby Goat Report for Thursday, February 2

2012-02-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

I spent some time at the goat pasture this morning, just watching. Both babies seem to be doing well. The older one (white with a brown head) is running around with her mother. She also has an Aunt Fudge watching over her. Aunt Fudge is a brown goat with a very sweet face who doesn't have a baby of her own. She watches over her friend's little one, when she needs a baby sitter.

The new baby (born Tuesday) was standing up and nursing when I checked on her. She gets tired pretty quickly, but seems pretty energetic when she's had a little nap.

One of our neighbors, who has had goats for many years, came over yesterday afternoon to look the babies over and give us some advice. We are grateful to him for his encouragement. I feel much better after getting an expert opinion. I'm hopeful that these two girls will survive.

Tuesday--Supplement

2012-01-31T15:52:00.000-08:00

The children and I were headed out this afternoon to join our homeschool group for activities and stopped at the goat pen to check on things. What did we see but a new baby, born to another mama! I immediately called our friends and let them know that we wouldn't make it for our lessons today. We've spent the afternoon and evening helping this baby along and hoping for the best.

I'll try to post more pictures soon!

Quick update on our baby goat

2012-01-31T06:17:00.000-08:00

As I said in yesterday's post, we lost one of our baby goats. The remaining kid seems to be doing fine. We've given her some milk replacer as a supplement to her mother's milk. Mama and baby were both up and walking around this morning, so we are hopeful that this baby will make it. I'll keep you posted.

Sad afternoon around here...

2012-01-30T13:02:00.000-08:00

When I went to check on the baby goats this afternoon, I found that we had lost one. She was lying, limp, in the shelter. We immediately brought the other baby into the mudroom. So far, we've gotten some milk replacer in her and she's moving around and letting us know, rather loudly, that she's not too sure about the new set up.

I'll keep you posted on our progress.

Update: The surviving baby seemed fine after we got some milk in her. She's producing urine (a sure sign that milk is getting through) and one of our "goat friends" said she should be okay to go back to her mother for the night. We'll keep supplementing with milk replacer until she's a bit stronger.

More Baby Goat Pictures

2012-01-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, prepare for cuteness overload. First up, is a little girl completely in love with a baby goat. Me, also completely in love with a baby goat. The milk around her mouth is the icing on the cuteness cake.

Kids learn to walk really fast, although they are still adorably wobbly.

Even Abby, the gigantic Great Pyrenees, is falling for the babies. She constantly woofed at the other goats when they came too close.
Excuse me, but I have to go check on the kids. I think they miss me.

Look what I found in the goat pen!

2012-01-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

I came home last night around 6:45 from a run to the fabric store and look what was in the goat pen! Andy, my husband, had checked on Mama Goat around 4:30, but no babies. Lo and behold, when I came back by two hours later--kids! They are adorable and our children are in love. They are walking around, sort of, and getting plenty to eat from their very sweet mother.

I'm completely smitten.

Another place I'd like to visit...

2012-01-25T03:53:00.000-08:00

is the Baltic Coast. I have to confess that the desire to see the Baltic Sea came from a television show. There's a show on the weekend (on a channel called HDNet) that's all about the coast of the Baltic Sea and the people who live there. It's cleverly titled Baltic Coasts.
A number of countries border the Baltic Sea, including Sweden, Germany, Latvia and Lithuania. If you're trying to picture where this is, start at Italy and head north for a while (through Germany), then slightly east.

The scenery is stunning, with green fields, lighthouses, farms, cities and of course, the Baltic Sea itself. The show features individuals that live along this northern coastline. They've had people who's lives revolve around the sea, such as fishermen, artists or harbor workers. There's also people who farm or raise animals in the area.

The show was almost exclusively filmed in the summer, since the weather always looks beautiful. I realize that it's not like that year round, but it tempts me anyway. And I'm sure, if I ever make it there, it will look just like it does on TV. (Don't disillusion me.)

The Tooth Fairy

2012-01-23T05:21:00.000-08:00

My youngest daughter lost her first tooth yesterday morning. It was rather anti-climactic. When the older children lost their first tooth, there was a bit of excitement and maybe some tears when there was a bit of blood involved.

This time though, my "I'll do it myself" kid came into the kitchen and said, "I don't believe it. My tooth fell out." That was it. No need for hugs from mom. No need for a cold wet cloth to bite. Not one tear.

So, last night we got out a little bag (leftover from a party we went to last month) and carefully put the very tiny tooth in it. It went under the pillow and this morning she woke up to...apparent disappointment. Yep, she seemed to think that two quarters was not up to the Tooth Fairy's reputation. Turns out, she was expecting a toothbrush and a bit more cash.

So now I'm looking for ideas. I'm not into upping the ante for a demanding child. I refuse to be played by a six-year-old. However, I'd like to be creative about this and offer something that makes this right of passage a memorable event.

I read a clever idea on the internet this morning. It involves a note from an international tooth fairy and coins from other countries. I kind of like that. Although it will require a bit more work on my part, I think it might be worth it.

So, now I'm open to suggestions. How have you handled the Tooth Fairy at your house?

New in the Bede Sisters Etsy shop!

2012-01-16T08:10:00.000-08:00

I've had a great time making baskets for Easter. The fabrics are the fun, bright colors that I love and the baskets are just so cute! Turtle basket

Butterfly basket

Ladybug basket

Do you have any new projects for spring?

Wordless Wednesday--Men at Work

2012-01-11T05:47:00.000-08:00

Dense Fog Warning

2012-01-10T05:32:00.000-08:00

I was looking back at my blog posts from last January and noticed that one year ago today, we woke up to snow. The ground was covered with an inch or two of the white stuff. And it was the second time we had had snow that winter. This year it's been fairly warm and definitely no snow. The high today is expected to be in the upper 60's with rain tonight, maybe even storms.

Right now, we are under a "dense fog warning" until 10 am. Kind of like me, before coffee. Hey, that's a good idea. I should issue "dense fog warnings" to my family, until mid-morning or until 2 cups of coffee, whichever comes first.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Another place I'd like to visit...

2012-01-02T03:50:00.000-08:00

Botswana. Yes, the country in southern Africa. Over the past couple of years I've been reading Alexander McCall Smith's series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. He paints a beautiful picture of Botswana and it's people.

I was so excited when a friend told me that there had been a television series based on the books. I rented the series and loved it. Although the actors in the series weren't exactly as I had pictured them, they were all just right. Now, I can't see them any other way.

Has a book ever made you want to visit a somewhere?

Christmas in Review

2011-12-30T07:23:00.000-08:00

I finished my son's rag quilt just in time. Here it is, after a washing and drying. You can see that the ragging/fraying process is started. The seams end up with a sort of chenille look.

Here we are, with the annual reading of the Christmas story by the Cousin-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Quite possibly the best Christmas gift I've ever given him. Swords and shields for everyone!And, here's our traditional Christmas breakfast--cornmeal mush. It's delicious. Honest.
So, how was your Christmas?

I've always wanted to go to....

2011-12-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

Reykjavik, Iceland. I know, you're asking, "Why in the world would you want to go to Reykjavik, Iceland, Kay?" I'm not sure exactly, but I can trace my desire to see Iceland back to October of 1986. That's the date of the Reagan/Gorbachev summit that eventually led to the end of the Cold War.

To be embarrassingly honest, I wasn't all that interested in the politics of the summit. I know, I was in college and I should have been more aware of world events, blah, blah, blah. What I remember about that summit was thinking, "People actually live in Iceland?! There are houses? And hotels? Who knew?" Not me, obviously.

So, ever since the fall of 1986, I've wanted to see Iceland. I want to see the geysers, the glaciers and the unpronounceable volcano, Eyjafjallajokull. Maybe someday I'll go there, although I probably won't be trying to negotiate world peace.

What places are on your bucket list?

Fluffy Balls of Fall

2011-12-09T04:25:00.000-08:00

I was separating my gorgeous, hand-dyed roving a few nights ago, getting it ready to spin when my college daughter walked by. She looked at the basket of wool and said, "It looks like little fluffy balls of fall!" I think she captured the color and texture perfectly. I've started spinning the wool on my drop spindle. I'm still very much a beginner, as you can see by the wide range of thick to thin places in my yarn. My more experienced fiber friends graciously call that "novelty yarn".
Most of the fiber arts people I've met are online friends. They are some of the most giving, helpful and encouraging people anywhere. They never make fun of beginners (at least not to my face) and they are quick to offer advice and instruction.

Even though I'm a complete novice, I'm made to feel like a part of the "in crowd" with fiber people. They jump at the chance to talk sheep, wool, hand spindles and spinning wheels, and don't get them started on roving vs. top! Actually, I love to get fiber people started. Uh-oh, I'm becoming one of "them".

Shhh! Don't tell!

2011-12-08T03:28:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a rag quilt for my son for Christmas. I spent an afternoon or two cutting up his old blue jeans into squares as well as cutting new flannel.

A rag quilt is made by having the seams exposed on one side of the quilt. The exposed raw edges are clipped close to the stiching. Then, the whole thing is washed and dried (probably at a laundromat) to start the fraying process. The finished quilt will have one side with traditional seams, the other will have frayed edges that look a bit like chenille.

Remind me to post a picture of the finished quilt. I hope he likes it!

Fibery Yummy-ness, Waiting to be Spun

2011-12-07T03:26:00.000-08:00

Last Craft Show of the Year

2011-12-06T03:14:00.000-08:00

We spent this past weekend at a Christmas craft show in Aiken, SC. It is a two-day, indoor show at the Odell Weeks Center in town. Lori and I enjoyed meeting other crafters and talking about our plans for the new year. It was a bit slow sales wise, but still a nice weekend.

Our booth space was open on two sides, so we set up a bit differently. The sides were not as tall as usual and we split the framework so people could walk through from one side to the other. One of the things we've learned from doing a few craft shows is that you never know before you get there exactly what your space will be like. Always be ready to adjust.

I don't have any more shows scheduled until spring, so I'm going to enjoy my holidays and work on building up inventory in the Etsy shop. And bake Christmas cookies.

Monday at Our House

2011-12-05T07:46:00.000-08:00

For our homeschool lessons, we've been reading about the Jamestown settlement and the paths people took to get there. One of the books is titled A Lion to Guard Us. It is the fictional story of three children, who's father has gone to establish a life in the New World. While waiting in England to join him, their mother dies. They are taken in by a kind doctor, who then decides to take them to the New World with him.

In today's chapter, they have a breakfast of tea and biscuits. I'm not sure if biscuit means, you know actual "biscuits" or the British biscuit meaning cookie. We went with the flour, shortening and baking powder kind, served with tea from a real teapot.

Also, my college daughter had an art project due today. She was to replicate an art piece from the museum. She got a pot to paint from her professor, that was close to the shape of the original Greek vase. I think she did a great job!

Happy Birthday to Me...sniff, cough, sniff

2011-11-29T05:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, so we're still suffering from colds around here, but that didn't keep my husband from bringing home dinner and a cake for my birthday. We ordered take-out Chinese food and had cake from a bakery.

The cake was delicious! And my friend Lisa sent me a bag of treats, including special teas and her homemade marshmallows--pumpkin flavor! Yum!

Now, if I can just get over this cold...

My Halls Are Decked

2011-11-26T15:38:00.000-08:00

In spite of a nasty case of sniffles which seems to be going around my family (I'm blaming the teenager--she started it), we managed to get our Christmas decorations put up today.

Our tree is in its usual spot, with it's blue ribbon and big bow on the top. The children put the decorations on it and they are nicely arranged, the decorations that is. Now that the children are a little older, the decorations manage to make it all the way up the tree. When they were smaller, there was quite a concentration of ornaments around the lower half.

I also put up a wreath in my kitchen. It's pieced, a bit like a Dresden plate quilt block, in Christmas fabrics. My mother made it many years ago and it's nice to have something of hers to keep me company this year.

This is also the one time of the year that I load up the top of the piano with decorations. I usually resist putting anything there. It's a musical instrument, not a shelf, but a few well-chosen, and padded items are allowed to rest there for a few weeks.

I'll try to get some pictures soon. It's a bit late today and the light is terrible, so you'll have to use your imagination. Actually, your imagination is probably better than the reality, so I may just let that suffice.

Have you done any decorating yet?

Let the cooking begin...

2011-11-23T07:43:00.000-08:00

I'm starting my Thanksgiving cooking with Cran-Apple Relish. It is delicious and freezes well, so not only am I set for tomorrow, I'm also set for Christmas.

Here's the recipe for Cran-Apple Relish:

1 orange, unpeeled

5-6 red apples unpeeled

1 pound of cranberries (actually, they usually come in 12 oz bags and that's enough)

2 cups sugar (I reduced this to one cup and it tastes fine.)

1 20 oz can of crushed pineapple, well drained

1/2 cup chopped pecans (I usually leave these out.)

Quarter orange and apples; remove cores. Grind apples, orange and cranberries in a food processor. Add sugar, pineapple and pecans. Mix well and refrigerate overnight. Makes 2 quarts.

Thanks to Cousin Leanne for the recipe!

Flu Shot Day

2011-11-10T03:19:00.000-08:00

My children and I went to the doctor's office this week for our flu shots. You might think that they would dread this day, but thanks to a little bribery, it wasn't too bad.

My deal is this: behave for your shot and you get a treat afterward. "Behave" is defined as holding still, not kicking the nurse and no excessive whining. A tear or two is tolerated, just no tantrums.

Before--

After--

It helps that there's a Walmart across the road from the doctor's office.

Weekend at the Craft Show

2011-11-09T03:02:00.000-08:00

I spent the past weekend at the Carolina Craftsmen Christmas Classic (don't try to say that five times fast). It was fun, exhausting, entertaining--in other words, a 3-day craft show.

If I had a dollar for everyone that walked into my booth, looked at a basket and said, "How cute!" and then walked out without buying anything, I could retire. It was huge fun though, to have lots of other people say "How cute!" and then proceed to buy two or three!

Another aspect of craft shows is that I get to spend time in the booth with some of my favorite people. Friday, my booth buddy was the wife of the Cousin-who-shall-not-be-named. She's a fellow homeschooler and, even though we spent 11 hours working a craft booth, it seemed like a day off! Thanks, Leanne!

Saturday and Sunday, Lori, the "other Bede Sister", was with me. She's amazing at staging the booth. Sales are always better when she's in charge of set-up. Yay, Lori!

How was your weekend?

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

For school today, we read to each other some of our favorite fall and Halloween stories.

Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanine Titherington

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White

The Beast Who Couldn't Say Boo by Amanda Agee

And a chapter from Richard Peck's A Year Down Yonder, that tells the story of Halloween with Grandma Dowdel.

We also made cupcakes (devil's food, of course) with sprinkles.

Tonight, I'm hoping for a chance to watch Arsenic and Old Lace with my older daughter.

Any special plans at your place?

State Fair Judging Results

2011-10-25T05:12:00.000-07:00

We picked up our entries from the fairgrounds yesterday as well as a handful of ribbons. Yay! As usual, the things I think are winners get nothing and the ones I think are just so-so, are the ones that come home with awards.

Here's the list of winners:
Bread and Butter Pickles--1st place
Apple Jelly--2nd Place
Grape (muscadine-wild grape)--2nd Place
Strawberry Jelly--2nd Place
Blueberry Jam--2nd Place
Purse--2nd Place

Apron--2nd Place

Girls Wear (dress)--2nd Place

Pillow--1st Place

We also had the great pleasure of meeting our state fair hero, a charming lady who enters literally dozens of categories and wins in lots of them. Miss Dorothy was there picking up her entries, an all day task for her, and we happened to see her cart and recognized some of her work. She was just as sweet and friendly as I had pictured. My son was thrilled to meet her and couldn't wait to tell his big sister about meeting Miss Dorothy.

Time to get started on next year's projects!

In Atlanta for Country Living's "Pitch Your Product"

2011-10-24T04:49:00.000-07:00

The Bede Sisters spent the weekend in Atlanta for Country Living magazine's "Pitch Your Product". It's kind of like American Idol for craft people. We checked in at the "pitch" desk and were sent to a waiting room with lots of other people. The hope is that Country Living will select out product for a mention in the magazine. (Here we are at the hotel, with our fabric baskets.)

We had three minutes to present our product, then the people from the magazine asked a couple of questions. That was it. Now we wait for a few weeks to see if we're "going to Hollywood". At least nobody called us "dawg".

After we were done with our pitch, we went to the Country Living Fair, held at Stone Mountain park. We had a great time checking out all the booths.

I spent a long time talking to a couple who raise their own sheep for wool. She's a long time spinner and I had the fun of watching her spin some of her hand dyed wool. I also brought home some roving for myself, of course.

The picture below is of Lori and me in front of a small camper belonging to the Sisters on the Fly. They are a group of women who go on adventures together, often fishing and many in their own wildly decorated campers. We may join them someday. When we grow up.

What have you been doing, Kay?

2011-10-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad you asked.

I've been visiting Florida theme parks in the rain. Checking out the chickens at the state fair with my son: Grieving the loss of our 20-year-old chair, lovingly known as "the blue chair":

And sewing. Lots and lots of sewing:

Am I Coming...Or Going?

2011-10-05T05:40:00.000-07:00

2011 SC State Fair Entries

2011-10-04T05:40:00.000-07:00

I'm headed to the SC State Fair grounds later today to deliver my entries for 2011.

These are my canning entries: jams, jellies and a jar of pickles. I wanted to enter some things made from pears, but I wasn't able to get pears this year.

I also have two stocking entries, the first from a recycled rice bag, the second from new materials. I love this little purse! It's made from leftover Halloween fabric from other projects.

This is a skein of my homespun yarn. It's way to lumpy and bumpy, but I had a great time spinning it. The judges may not be impressed, but I am. Yay me!

My scarf entry is made from bamboo yarn and is super soft. The colors are purple and white.
The last two entries are a crocheted shawl (including a bit of homespun yarn) and a Thanksgiving apron.

Wish me luck!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday--Ode to Jackson Pollock

2011-09-28T04:45:00.000-07:00

This is my son's artwork for the SC State Fair. It's his Ode to Pollock-Part 2.

Jackson Pollock was an American artist, known for his unusual techniques.

They're Here!

2011-09-26T03:54:00.000-07:00

As of Saturday, just after noon, we are goat owners. One of our cousins, who keeps a couple dozen goats himself, brought us a male and two females.

They are spending their time checking out their new surroundings, which include an open pasture as well as a wooded area.

The billy is the one with a brown and black head. The other two are girls and are creamy white.

I'm not sure the boy is happy with the new situation yet, based on his expression. What do you think?

Why I Didn't Leave My House This Afternoon

2011-09-17T10:52:00.001-07:00

This gigantic tree fell across our driveway today. It was leaning rather precariously over the driveway for a couple days, and picked today to fall. Thankfully, no one was under it.

So, how was your day?

Jelly

2011-09-15T04:57:00.000-07:00

I finally finished making apple and bullace (wild grape) jellies yesterday. I had made the juice a week or so ago and put it in the refrigerator. So after lunch yesterday, I set the giant water bath canner on the stove to heat, pulled the juice out of the fridge and got to work.

Once the jelly was made and dinner served, I realized we had nothing for dessert, so I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

My day didn't start out too well yesterday, (see previous post) but it ended nicely. Warm oatmeal cookies make it all better.

It can only get better from here, right?

2011-09-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the saying "Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day"? Well, I didn't eat a live frog, but I did have an unpleasant chore to do. My son came in from feeding the outside animals and said, "Mom, one of the chickens is dead. She's next to the waterer."

Sigh. My husband left for work an hour earlier so it was up to me. My sweet son kept me company and helped cover the grave with large sticks, to keep other critters out. It's not a pleasant chore, but it is one of those things that makes me feel a bit stronger when I've done it. Burying a farm animal is now one of the things I can do on my own.

When we got back to the house, my six-year-old daughter had made me a cup of coffee. She did a great job. She can add that to the list of things she can do on her own.

Aiken's Makin' 2011

2011-09-12T03:31:00.000-07:00

Lori and I were at Aiken's Makin' this weekend. It's a great street craft fair in Aiken, SC, held every September. Aiken a beautiful little city, with a wonderful downtown area.

Here's our booth on Friday.

We made some changes on Saturday, including adding a shelf for the fabric baskets. I think it helped a lot.

If you look across the walkway from our booth, you will see what may be the most interesting tree in history, judging by the number of children who stopped to check it out. We heard them guessing what it was, everything from a raccoon house to a trash can.

Silly children, of course fairies live there.

Making Gifts

2011-09-07T04:49:00.000-07:00

The younger daughter of the Cousin-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named* had a birthday earlier this week. She's a special girl who manages to be both fearless and feminine, at the same time.

It's always a good day when we get to visit with her and her older sister. They have their mom's sweet spirit and their dad's wicked sense of humor.

So, clearly in need of a gift, I headed to my sewing room and found just enough of this adorable owl fabric to make a purse. I love how it turned out!

Originally, the party was going to be at my aunt's cabin, just down the road from us. However, it is hurricane season in the southeast, and the threat of high wind and heavy rain moved the party back to town. We didn't make it to the big city for the party, but I know the birthday girl had a great time, even without us.

*See the July 4th 2010 blog post.

SC State Fair is Coming

2011-09-02T01:18:00.000-07:00

The South Carolina State Fair is just over a month away. I've registered to enter loads of things this year. Some are already complete, some may not get done in time. No matter how much actually makes it to the fairgrounds, it's fun to participate.

This is a Jacob's ladder quilt block, made into a pillow. I used fabrics left over from other projects and I'm really pleased with the result.

I've registered canned goods, machine sewing (things I don't sell in the etsy shop, like quilt block pillows!), a crocheted scarf and a shawl, even herb plants. I'm a bit worried about the plants. They aren't looking very "fair worthy" at the moment.

Now that the pillow is done, on to the rest of my entries...

My Aunt's Cabin...In Legos

2011-09-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

Learning a New Skill

2011-08-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

I've been saying for several years now, that I want to learn to quilt when I grow up. I'm not sure I'm any more grown up today, but I started working on a "quilt as you go" project. Quilt-as-you-go is a method of quilting one block at a time, then joining the blocks to make the finished quilt.

Some years ago, my mother and her sister took a lap quilting (quilt-as-you-go) class. They each made a beautiful quilt; my mother's quilt now hangs in my house. She did not go on to make any more, preferring other sewing projects. My aunt, however, has made several quilts since that time.

So, after talking to my aunt and reading a lot of library books on quilting, I've taken the plunge. I picked a simple pattern called "churn dash" or "hole in the barn door". I've made three blocks and they are ready to be quilted. I'm not sure yet if this will be a full size quilt or just a small lap size. I'll try to keep you posted on my progress.

Is there anything you've always wanted to learn to do?

And the winners are...

2011-08-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

Tabitha and ioncik! Congratulations on winning the Bede Sisters Fall Giveaway! I'll be in touch with you to find out where to send your fall baskets.

When Worlds Collide

2011-08-19T04:44:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, the phones and computer were down for a while at my husband's office for a scheduled upgrade, so he helped out with chores at home for a while. Here he is, in his chicken-tending suit:

It was nice to have some company for morning chores and to have someone to lift the filled waterer. He's back at work today, and the children and I are at home, so things are closer to their usual routine. Now, if I can just find someone to lift the water bath canner...

Wordless Wednesday--Feather on My Floor

2011-08-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost over...

2011-08-15T04:53:00.000-07:00

My summer vacation is almost over. School starts next week and the fall craft show season will be in full swing soon. We've managed to have a fair amount of fun, though:

A couple of trips to the beach
Anniversary spent in Charleston, SC
A weekend in Atlanta
Family reunion at our place
Growing herbs, some for the first time like pineapple sage and stevia
Read a few books
Lots (but not enough) afternoons by the pool

The hot days will be around for a while yet, but my days without a schedule are ending. Back to math lessons, reading with the children, history (US history this year) and spelling. Actually, that doesn't sound too bad.

The Birthday Girl Tries Out Her New Oven

2011-08-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe that my baby girl is six years old.

She was very excited about her Easy Bake oven from her aunt and uncle. So of course, we had to bake a cake this morning. It was delicious!

New in the Etsy Shop

2011-08-09T04:45:00.000-07:00

This cute little basket is new in the Bede Sisters' etsy shop for Halloween. It's sized just right for holding Halloween candy, either next to your door or while out trick-or-treating.

These adorable little baskets were created for a special custom order, as party favors. They are about 4.5 in high, not including the handle.

I'm thinking of adding them as a custom order option in the shop. Can't you see them as favors, not just for birthdays, but also for weddings, anniversaries and graduation parties?

Update on the Sprouting Seeds

2011-08-08T04:55:00.000-07:00

The pumpkins are up! The pumpkins are up! Most of the pumpkin seeds have sprouted and they are reaching for the sunlight (above). I'll need to transplant them to either larger containers or into the ground soon.

The red rubin basil (below) is looking interesting, though not very big yet. It really is a deep burgundy color. It should make some beautiful pesto, assuming it continues to grow.

The thyme (above) and chamomile (below) are looking pretty good. I'm not sure how long before I should transplant them. To be perfectly frank, I wasn't sure my experiment in seed sprouting would get this far.

Any experiments in progress at your place?

Blueberry Pie at the Cabin

2011-08-06T04:05:00.000-07:00

This week, we had a neighbor. Most of the time, we are quite a distance from anybody you'd call a "neighbor", but this week, my aunt came to spend a few days at her cabin. The cabin is fairly close to our place so we do lots of visiting back and forth when she comes to stay there.

On Friday, we baked a blueberry pie at the cabin. The blueberries had to be cooked a bit in sugar, flour, and lemon juice until the mixture thickened. We then poured the blueberries into the pie crust...

and topped them with a second crust.
The pie then baked for about 45 minutes. The cabin smelled wonderful!

While waiting for the pie to cool, the children and I headed back to our house to do our chores and make dinner. Just as we were finishing, my aunt arrived with pie for dessert. Come back anytime, neighbor!

My New Dishwasher is Here

2011-08-05T04:35:00.000-07:00

After just five years, my old dishwasher was not doing well. The racks were rusting away, the dishes weren't getting clean and rinsing? Not a chance. So, with moaning and a bit of teeth gnashing, we forked over the money for a new one.It was installed on Wednesday and it works really well. One of the features I really like is the delayed start. You wouldn't think it would be a big deal. I had one on my dishwasher in our last house, but I didn't think I'd miss it when we moved. However, I've dreamed of having a delay timer ever since.

Here's why: when I go to bed, I'm often not the last one to turn in. I have a husband and college daughter who have the same taste in television shows, so they stay up later and will usually have a glass or popcorn bowl to add to the dishwasher load. You see the problem. If I start the dishwasher before going to bed, I may wake up to more dishes in the sink, but if I don't start it it's fairly likely no one else will remember to start it.

Delay timer to the rescue! I can start the timer when I go to bed, then if anyone adds a dish, the washer will still run. Yay!

I can't believe I just wrote a lengthy blog post about dishwasher timers. Can you tell my sewing machine is in the shop for service?

What is "Slum Gullion"?

2011-08-03T05:24:00.000-07:00

My afternoon did not turn out like I expected yesterday. I was working on a special order for a customer when the phone rang. My daughter was as the library about 40 minutes from home...with her keys locked in her truck. She said, "I see them. Right there on the seat. Mocking me."

So, I gathered up the younger children and headed to the library to rescue her. It threw a monkey wrench into hubby and my "date night" plans, so we instead took the whole family out for dinner at a local place, called "Crossroads Cafe".

On the chalkboard was something called "slum gullion". I got brave and asked what it was. The server brought me a little sample to try. Turns out, it's like a vegetable beef stew. Think of it as what your grandmother used to do with Sunday leftovers--the leftover roast beef, tomatoes, carrots and potatoes all cooked together into a delicious stew.

It was delicious. Obviously, I opted for the grilled cheese combo.

Teaser Tuesday--Full Black

2011-08-02T05:16:00.000-07:00

It's really hot outside and I'm reading a spy thriller novel. Must be summer.

"He'd been taught not to believe in coincidences. Releasing the parking brake, he put his car in gear, and as he did, a very bad feeling began to overtake him."

Full Black by Brad Thor

What are you reading this August?

Giveaway from Bede Sisters

2011-07-28T04:57:00.000-07:00

I received an email this morning, reminding me that Black Friday is only 121 days away. If you are a business owner, that likely made your blood pressure go up. For those of you who aren't business owners (or hard core shoppers), Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US. It's the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season.

Loads of businesses have huge sales that day and many brick and mortar stores (meaning they have a building, not just online) open early. As in really early. Think 4am early. They want you to come to them first, while your wallet is still full and your credit limit hasn't been reached.

Since I have to be ready for the fall and winter shopping season, I have already been thinking ahead to what will be in the Bede Sisters shop in the next five months. One of the things that I'm working on is a line of small baskets. They are great for seasonal decor, as well as wonderful gift baskets. Fill these with goodies for a teacher, boss, friend, and you'll have a gift to remember.

So, here's the giveaway:

For each of two winners, I'll send you one of my first two fall baskets (pictured above). I'll select a winner (using a random number generator) on August 19, 2011. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me how you'll use the basket--as a gift, to perk up your fall table, candy holder for Halloween, whatever you have in mind.

You can also have an extra entry if you are a follower of my blog. Leave me a comment telling me that you are a follower or have just become one.

I can't wait to hear your ideas!

Wordless Wednesday--Lantana

2011-07-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

Seeds Are Sprouting!

2011-07-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

Seeds are sprouting! I'm so excited that some of the seeds have already started to come up. I love gardening, but I'm really bad at it, so every little success is cause for celebration around here.
Here's a pumpkin seed thinking about coming up. Come on, little sprout, you can do it! The thyme is doing the best. Lots of tiny little leaves are showing up in the egg carton. I'm looking forward to having fresh herbs this winter, so I hope these plants continue to grow.

Any triumphs in your life lately?

Don't Mess with Me, Big Dog

2011-07-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

I captured this scene yesterday morning. Abby, the big dog, was trying her best to get Frodo to play. He, apparently, wasn't in the mood for games.

My Morning Routine

2011-07-22T05:36:00.000-07:00

My morning routine is getting a bit of a rhythm to it these days. I try to get out of the house as early as I can since it heats up quickly. Abby is my companion for chores, although she can be fickle. Today my son came out and she left me to get a rub down from him.
First on the list is feeding and watering the chickens. I head to the coop and say good morning to the girls. There are 19 others, but these two ladies posed nicely for me this morning. The first one is a Rhode Island Red (RIR). The one below that is a black sex-link, which is a RIR cross. They both are reliable layers of large brown eggs.Here's the waterer, waiting at the faucet to be filled. Later, I'll turn on the sprinkler to keep the chickens cool while it's so very hot outside. Chickens can't take the extreme heat. Last summer, we lost two on one day, so this year I'm determined to keep them cool. Next, I move on the the goat pasture. There's a shocking lack of goats there. For now, I just refill Abby's water and food bowls. But as soon as the goats' shelter is built, there will be more chores to do up here.Last, I water my container plants outside. The lantana is enjoying the hot weather, both in containers and in the butterfly garden. At least somebody likes the heat!

Do you have a morning routine?

Baked Pork Chops for Dinner

2011-07-21T03:54:00.000-07:00

Last night, I baked pork chops for dinner. I put them in a baking dish, with pineapple juice, pineapple pieces and some fresh pineapple sage from my herb garden. The whole thing went into a 350 degree oven for a little over an hour, covered with foil.

The pork chops came out nicely browned and very tender.
We also had appetizers, sliced gouda (my family's new favorite cheese) and crackers, topped with Laughing Cow cheese, a fresh basil leaf and a slice of tomato. Yummy!

So, this was dinner: pork chops, broccoli, homemade pickles, fresh cucumber slices and a roll.
What did you have for dinner last night?

Wordless Wednesday--Herb Garden

2011-07-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

Starting Seeds Indoors

2011-07-19T03:59:00.001-07:00

My new mudroom has been turned into a greenhouse and I think I like it. After running some errands in town yesterday morning, the children and I started some seeds indoors. We used old egg cartons, seed starting medium (from Lowe's) and herb seeds as well as pumpkin.I filled the cartons with the seed starting mix and dampened it slightly. The children added the seeds. Then I topped off the seeds with a thin layer of the mix and we moved the egg cartons from the kitchen to the mudroom. I'm hoping to have some herbs growing in the house for the winter. The pumpkins will, if they sprout, go into the garden for the fall. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

New Item in Bede Sisters Shop

2011-07-18T03:37:00.000-07:00

I've been making fabric baskets for a year or so now, mostly in small sizes. I've even done a few custom orders for large baskets, but recently I made and listed for sale several, ready-to-ship, large tote baskets.

Large Floral Tote for the Beach, Market or Park

This beautiful basket is made in a gorgeous cotton from Amy Butler's Love collection, called Bliss Bouquet. The colors include lime, magenta, coral, white and peach on a teal background.
The tote is approximately 11 inches high, 11 inches wide and 17 inches long.

Here's another one, in a fantastic, mod flowers print:

Any new projects at your place?

Reorganizing the Pantry

2011-07-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know, reorganizing a pantry isn't the most exciting way to spend an evening, but hey, I live in the country. What else was I going to do? It actually became a fairly big project for us, since my husband bought new shelving units to put in the hall closet.
Andy, my husband, spent the evening putting the shelves together while I cleared out the closet and removed the old metal shelves. The old ones are in great shape, they just weren't working well in the space, so they are moving on to new lives (one in the new mud room).

I like a well organized pantry, so I can find what I need quickly and hopefully, not waste something because it got lost in the back somewhere. I'm not sure if you can see this from the photos, but my cleaning products are on the left--bathroom cleaners, mop pads, air fresheners, etc.

The back shelves have toiletries and light bulbs, as well as plastic platters and serving pieces for summer parties. The shelves on the right have food and baking necessities, like baking soda, brown sugar, cake mixes, pasta, all that sort of thing. I think of this closet as my "store". When I run out of rice in the kitchen, I can go down the hall to my store and get what I need.

This has also been a great opportunity to inventory what I currently have on hand. Turns out, I have plenty of toilet bowl cleaner, but I'm completely out of brownie mix. Clearly, a trip to town is in order.

I really should tackle my bedroom closet next, but it's scary in there.

Weekend in Atlanta

2011-07-14T04:54:00.000-07:00

My husband called me last Wednesday and said, "I could use a couple of days off. Let's take a little vacation." So much for my stay-at-home July. He decided on a weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

We actually had a nice time. There are loads of fun, family-friendly things to do around Atlanta. We went to the Atlanta Medieval Times, where my daughter had a great time. She cheered our knight and booed the bad guy. For two hours.

Did you know that Zoo Atlanta is one of only four zoos in the United States that has giant pandas? We didn't either, but when we found out, my son could hardly wait to get there.

One of the pandas is an eight-month old baby and did a few acrobatic tricks for the visitors. How cute is that?

We also spent a day at Six Flags Whitewater, a big waterpark. The children weren't into the big slides, but they loved the lazy river.

There are lots of other things we could have done, like the Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the Coke Factory tour, not to mention going to a professional sports event. Atlanta has Braves baseball, Hawks basketball and Falcons football.

How's your July so far?

Wordless Wednesday--My Back Door

2011-07-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

Independence Day

2011-07-04T05:16:00.000-07:00

On the wall behind me is a beautiful wooden case, holding the flags presented to me at my father's graveside. It has been a bit over four years since then, and I still miss him every day. My father was a National Guardsman for 40 years, 38 of those years he was full time.
I learned a lot from my dad, like how to drive a stick shift and "always bring a sweater". My father also taught me about patriotism. Three things stand out in my mind:

1. Stand up when the National Anthem is sung.
2. Obey the rules when displaying the U.S. flag.
3. Show respect for those who serve in our military. They're the good guys.

Thanks, Daddy, and thank you to all those who have served and those who continue to serve. You are my heroes.

Saturday Around the Homestead

2011-07-02T18:02:00.000-07:00

There was lots to do around our place today and some of it actually got done. Andy mowed grass, around the house as well as down the driveway. He also fixed a faucet handle and one of the children's games.

I brushed down the pool and added chlorine, weeded about half the vegetable garden, made pickles and a yummy supper. The children and I made and decorated cupcakes for the holiday weekend.

The pickles were the big project of the day. My nine-year-old son helped me cut up cucumbers on Friday, in preparation for making bread and butter pickles today. The cucumber slices soaked in salt water overnight.

This afternoon, we combined sugar, vinegar and spices on the stove. We then added the cucumbers, simmered them for a few minutes and put them in jars. After a quick trip through the water bath canner, we now have pickles!
The cupcakes are red, white and blue in honor of Independence Day. The children had a great time adding the sprinkles.
Any plans this holiday weekend? Or non-holiday weekend, if you're outside the US?

Putting Up Corn

2011-07-01T03:56:00.000-07:00

I was the lucky recipient of a tub full of corn. Corn is not difficult to put up, but it is a bit of work to prepare. It has to be shucked and then the corn cut off the cob. Since it would have to be pressure canned (and my pressure canner is in the storage barn at the moment) I decided to freeze it.

I shucked, cut and blanched all afternoon and ended up with about 7 quarts of corn in my freezer. It will be easy to prepare this fall and winter, either as a side dish on it's own or in soups.

I love seeing that shelf in my freezer. It feels like I got something done today. Any projects at your place today?

Having a Bad Day?

2011-06-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

My five-year-old daughter put this drawing on her bedroom door the other day. It's a growling tiger who says, "Go away." I'm not clear on what the 5000 is, but I suspect that it's a reward for turning in trespassers.

I asked her if she was having a bad day. She said, "That's because my brother was bothering me." Sweetie, I'm pretty sure that road goes both ways.

Anybody bothering you at your place?

Go Gamecocks!

2011-06-29T03:23:00.000-07:00

I'm up. Past midnight. I'm rarely up late, but tonight is an exception because my South Carolina Gamecocks won their second, in a row, national championship title! Did you catch that? My alma mater is home to the two-time winner of the College World Series.

I've been a South Carolina Gamecock fan all my life. My mother and her sister graduated from USC, as did I. I remember watching Gamecock basketball with my parents when I was a very little girl. I went to almost every home football game when I was a student. And now, I've been watching the baseball team make history.

Did I mention, the South Carolina Gamecock baseball team won the national title? Again?

Back from our travels...

2011-06-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

I have been looking forward to this day for quite a while. Andy and I have had loads to do in June, including a family reunion, an anniversary trip to Charleston and a business trip to Hilton Head. All three were fun, but took a lot of time and energy.

But today, feels like the real start of my summer. We don't have any more big events or trips planned. I get to stay home and work on orders for customers, water plants, tend chickens and get ready for our goats. I can also spend hours a day watching my children swim in the pool, one of my favorite things in the world to do. There will be canning, gardening and lots of reading.

Of course, I'll also be weeding the garden, breaking up arguments between my children and keeping an eye out for that king snake that likes to hang around the yard. Still, it's summer in the south and life is good.

Another Fabulous Etsy Seller

2011-06-23T03:32:00.000-07:00

Can you fall in love with a new ironing board cover? I'm pretty sure the answer is "yes". I recently purchased one from City Chic Country Mouse on Etsy. They are a mother-daughter team, with the goal of making "some of your not-so-fun chores more enjoyable."

City Chic Country Mouse is home to some of the prettiest laundry essentials anywhere. I requested an ironing board cover in a fabric which wasn't currently in the shop. They answered quickly, and they got the fabric I wanted and had my new cover to me lightning fast.

Here's a peek at what's currently in their shop:

Ironing Board Cover - Bijou in White (above)

Clothespin Bag - Happy Day (below)

Now, don't you want to do some laundry? Or at least make your laundry room prettier?

Wordless Wednesday--Outside My Window

2011-06-22T04:37:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday--Outlander

2011-06-21T04:40:00.000-07:00

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

"Even admitting for a moment the completely implausible idea that I was in another time than my own, Inverness had stood in its present location for some six hundred years. It was there. But, apparently, it had no lights. Under the circumstances, this strongly suggested that there were no electric lights to be had."

This book has been out for 20 years, but I just started reading it. Outlander was recommended to me by a lady I met at a restaurant. She's from Scotland and said she loved the Outlander series. How could I say no to a review like that?

What's on your nightstand?

Our Anniversary Trip

2011-06-20T03:32:00.000-07:00

My husband and I celebrated our 21st anniversary last week. He made reservations at a bed and breakfast in Charleston, SC, called the Ashley Inn. It's a bit off the beaten path in Charleston, closer to the medical university than the Battery and Rainbow Row, but it's a beautiful inn with reasonable prices.

We were in Room #5 on this visit. It is lovely and has a door leading to the second floor piazza. On our last visit, our 10th anniversary, we were in the suite which includes a private sitting area.

Breakfast was delicious, ham crepes with fresh fruit on the side. It was served on the side porch of the inn. We shared a table with a man from Virginia and a couple from Denmark. The inn's hosts are friendly and welcoming and always ready with a restaurant recommendation or must-see sights.

Charleston, SC, is my favorite city. It's history and beauty are world class and it's reputation for southern hospitality is well deserved. I think I'll start making plans for next year; a 22nd anniversary is special, too, right?

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T04:26:00.000-07:00

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." ~Harmon Killebrew

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope. ~Bill Cosby

A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. ~Enid Bagnold

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. ~Author Unknown

Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected. ~Red Buttons

Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again. ~Jimmy Piersal, on how to diaper a baby, 1968

Happy Father's Day!

Wordless Wednesday--Summer Supper

2011-06-15T05:40:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday--Mr. Popper's Penguins

2011-06-14T03:37:00.000-07:00

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

"There was not the slightest doubt about it. It was a penguin. Mr. Popper was speechless with delight."

I had not read this book as a child (how did I ever miss this!), but I was determined to read it with my children before the movie comes out. We are enjoying it as a read aloud and hope to see the movie later this summer.

I'm on a mission to read all those books I should have read as a child, or that I think I read but really didn't. This is one of them.

What are your childhood favorites?

Treat from a Wonderful Etsy Seller

2011-06-13T05:12:00.000-07:00

Just the other day, in my mailbox, was this yummy little treat--a set of four blueberry screenprinted napkins from Tina Produce. I was happily browsing on Etsy, when I saw a picture of these beautiful napkins and ordered them right away.

I love to use blueberries in my kitchen, in my window treatment, my dishes, wall art and knick-knacks. So, of course, these fantastic napkins had to join the collection.

Tina Produce also has strawberry and raspberry napkins, as well as T-shirts and totes. Check out the shop and find a treasure that's calling your name!

Family Reunion

2011-06-12T05:11:00.000-07:00

We had a family reunion at our place yesterday. My cousins and I decided that we were tired of seeing each other only at funerals, and our family has had quite a few of those in recent years. So we picked a summer Saturday and put out the word.

I set up a drink station, with cups, napkins, and drinks in the coolers. Sweet tea in gallon jugs was added later.

The food table was prepped to receive all the goodies that I knew would arrive. Turns out, two of my guy cousins are awesome cooks. Who knew?

Tables and chairs, set and waiting for food and conversation:

And, my cousin Burt (sorry, but your dad is "Wayne"), getting ready for his big dive. We're all waiting.

And my son is ready for you...

'Bout time!

Pretty impressive form there, cousin.

Burt and his wife, Meredith, have a blog. She and I took pictures at the same time, so this shot may actually appear in two places on the web. Here's a link: The Burtons.

Things Can Get a Bit Scary Around Here

2011-06-09T04:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of those days when I remember that I don't live in a Disney movie, where all the critters are cute and friendly. I had been outside with the children, watering plants, when my five-year-old daughter started swinging on the playset. She said, "Mom! There's a spider!"

To be clear, that's not unusual. We have lots of spiders around the house, most of them are no trouble and they help keep the fly population down. This time, however, when I went to see the spider, my daughter said, "I think it's a black widow." Uh-oh.

First, let me say, I'm proud of my little girl's ability to identify dangerous spiders. Second, let me say, "EEEEEWWWWW!!!" I attempted to smash the spider between my flip-flops. Unfortunately, it then disappeared. Hopefully, it fell on the ground and died. Hopefully.

Later, the drama continued. My older daughter went to the chicken coop to check on the girls. It's been pretty hot lately, and chickens don't do well in excessive heat, so she wanted to be sure everyone was okay. She came back a few minutes later and said, "There's a snake in the chicken coop. It's just a black snake, but it's pretty big."

First let me say, I'm proud of my daughter's ability to identify a non-venomous snake (and not scream when she saw it). Second, let me say, "EEEEEEWWWWW!!!" As luck would have it, Superhero Dad had already left his office and was on the way home. He went out to the coop, searched the area thoroughly and...the snake was gone.

So, that's life in the country. How are things at your place?

"I'm Reeeeaaallly Sorry I Chewed the Table Leg"

2011-06-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday--The Pirate Coast

2011-06-07T04:37:00.000-07:00

The Pirate Coast by Richard Zacks

The Pirate Coast is the true story of the United States first covert mission, to find Hamet Karamanli, brother of the Bashaw of Tripoli in the early 1800's. The goal was to place Hamet in power, hoping he would be more friendly to the young United States than his brother.

"The written orders I here hand you....are intended to disguise the real object of your expedition, which is to proceed with Mr. Eaton to Alexandria in search of Hamet Bashaw, the rival brother and legitimate sovereign of the reigning bashaw of Tripoli..."

What's on your nightstand?

A Bit of Landscaping and A Couple of Visitors

2011-06-06T03:13:00.000-07:00

We spent some time this weekend working on the area around the pool. It was looking a bit run down. A really quick way to add some color and perk up dreary spot is to add fresh mulch and some containers. I went to town with Andy (my husband) and we selected some brightly colored flower pots, a plant rack and some cheery flowers.

The children helped us start the project by raking up dead leaves and such. Then we put down fresh mulch all around.

The plant stand has hooks for three hanging plants and, once I added three large baskets of petunias it gave instant sparkle to the side of the pool.

The bright blue flower pots (shhh, they are plastic) are pretty fantastic on their own, but with the addition of some geraniums and annual lantana, they really bring that empty spot to life.

Near the butterfly garden, I spotted a couple of dragonflies coming to visit. We get the neatest looking bugs around here.

Stuff We Did Over the Weekend

2011-05-31T04:42:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's the end of May already! We finished our schoolwork on Friday and our summer vacation has officially begun. The flower beds will get the attention they deserve and the vegetable garden will be tended. The herbs will be watered and harvested at the peak of flavor and the pool will stay clean and the animals showered with attention. Okay, well, I can dream can't I?

The flowers are looking good; the warm temperatures are agreeing with most of them. These knockout roses are beginning to bloom profusely.

My containers are beginning to fill in well, although the grasss around the new steps hasn't grown back yet.

The vegetable garden finally got planted. We put in tomato plants, cucumbers, radishes, beets, squash, and eggplant.

When we got done with the chores, we headed for the pool to cool off. Abby the Ginormous Dog cooled off too. Unfortunately, she decided that digging in the dirt and covering herself with it was the way to go.

What's Green Around Here

2011-05-21T05:18:00.000-07:00

Spring is in full splendor around here and the hostas are doing well. I went to my favorite shade plant nursery, Shady Characters, planning to buy a few heucheras to replace several that I lost this past winter (and one that Abby the Ginormous Dog dug up, grrr!) Of course I couldn't possibly get out of there without a new hosta or two, to add to the mix.

This heuchera is called citronella, and it has a wonderful lime green color. It just lights up the shade plant bed.

This one is called Southern Comfort, another heuchera, with leaves the color of caramel. It's a nice contrast with the greens of the hostas nearby.

And, here are some of the containers that I've planted this year. My apologies for the mud on the sides. They were still recovering from the huge rainstorms of the night before.

No, Martha Stewart probably wouldn't be impressed, but I think my grandmother would like it. And that's a pretty good standard.

Spring Always Gets Busy Around Here

2011-05-17T04:57:00.000-07:00

As usual, spring is a busy time. There's gardening to do (which has been on hold for a few days because of rain), schoolwork to finish, and right now I've got custom orders to fill for the Etsy shop.

My flower gardens are looking pretty good. This year I've added a few hostas and filled about eight containers with annuals, mostly pink ones. I've agonized over containers for a few years, trying to copy pictures in magazines and nursery catalogs. This time is different. I remembered a picture I saw a few years ago of my grandmother's country home. The porch was filled with containers of plants and the colors were gorgeous.

So, I decided to just buy loads of annuals and stick them in the pots I already have. I haven't followed any rules, just put in a bunch of flowers that I like. I'm happy with the result, When it stops raining, I'll take a picture for you.

How's spring shaping up for you? (Or fall, if you're below the equator!)

Adventures Around the Homestead

2011-05-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a pretty good day around here. The children and I finished reading their history book for this year. We still have some other subjects to complete, but we're almost ready for summer vacation.

Yesterday was also warm, as in 90 degrees. Oh, sure, by the end of July we'll be longing for the chill of a 90 degree day, but right now, it seems pretty hot. So, after working in the vegetable garden for a bit, mostly digging up weeds, I was ready for a dip in the pool.

I got myself and my children all set to get in the water, bathing suits on, slathered with sunscreen, a cooler filled with drinks and my radio on the little table between lounge chairs. Only thing left was to check the pool's filter basket for creepy crawlies. I found one.

It was a scarlet snake, a red, black and white snake that lives in our area. The are not venomous and are small, no bigger around than my finger. Last year, I encountered my first one in the pool, but it was, umm, deceased. This one was very much alive. (The photo is from UGA's website.)

I use a gizmo that we got from the pool supply store to check the filter basket. It has a hook on one end to lift the cover and a little basket on the other end to scoop up frogs and such that I don't want to pick up with my hand. I used the hook end to grab the snake and then tossed it into the woods. It tried to coil up and look fierce, but I wasn't fooled.

I felt so brave. It's the first time I've had to cope with a live snake on my own, although I'm not sure that little guy counts. He (or she) was kind of cute.

Country Mouse

2011-05-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

One of the things that happens when you live in the country is that mice sometimes come in for a visit. I'm not sure what they think they are going to find. I clean up most of the crumbs, I really do. But, field mice just want to visit once in a while. And Thursday morning was one of those times.

I was dozing nicely about 6:45 am, when I heard a commotion in the bathroom. The sound of the trash can being tossed around, followed immediately by my husband's voice calling me. I thought he might be sick, but noooooo...he was trying to catch a mouse. I opened the bathroom door to see my husband, in what I now refer to as his official "mouse catching suit", a business suit he happened to be wearing at the time. He was bent over with the trash can in one hand and something else, not sure what (a toilet plunger?), in the other hand.

Just as I opened the door, he then said, "Close the door! Close the door!" Turns out, he HAD the mouse in the trash can, but had failed to account for the amazing acrobatics of a frightened rodent. It had jumped OUT of the trash can and was headed for ME.

It managed to escape, and was later spotted by our daughter in the kitchen. The cat, obviously too well fed, wasn't interested in giving chase. Frodo the Wonder Yorkie, however, has kept a pretty steady vigil at the base of the stove.

I'm counting on you, Frodo. Show that mouse who's boss.

So glad to be home...

2011-05-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

It was a nice vacation. Really. I love the beach and, living in South Carolina, some very nice beaches are within a 2-4 hour drive. Last week, we went to the Grand Strand (SC coast, from Little River to Georgetown) and had a great time. The water was still to cold for me, but my children loved it, jumping waves and trying out a boogie board.
On the days when the weather didn't cooperate for beach time, we went to Broadway at the Beach, a shopping center/attraction a few miles inland. There are specialty shops, restaurants, and attractions for families. There's an IMAX theatre, traditional movie theatre, WonderWorks (children's museum), mini-golf and MagiQuest (a sort of walk through video game). The attractions themselves can be pricey, but there's no charge just to walk through and window shop.

We ate lots of seafood, walked on the beach, built sand castles and had as much fun as we could stand at Broadway at the Beach. So, it was a nice vacation. Really. But I am so glad to be home.

How I spent my vacation...

2011-05-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Mudroom is Finished!

2011-05-01T05:29:00.001-07:00

Our mudroom is finished! I'm still working on getting settled in the new space, deciding where to put things and what (if any) furniture to buy. Any suggestions?

You can see the coat hooks we bought (they are on the white chair); we'll get those put up soon.

Strawberry Season Is Here

2011-04-30T03:46:00.000-07:00

April and May are strawberry season around here so we made our annual trip to a local strawberry farm. The children helped pick three buckets of berries which we brought home and made into jam and jelly.
To make both jam and jelly, I just follow the recipes in a box of pectin. You start by washing the berries and removing the stem and leaves. I usually cut them up a bit before crushing the fruit. Then, strain them through a jelly bag or cheesecloth. I use the strained juice for jelly and the leftover pulp for jam.

And now, we can enjoy those strawberries all winter. Mmm...

Sew for Yourself Challenge

2011-04-29T03:30:00.000-07:00

A group of online friends started a Sew for Yourself challenge recently. We are all people who sew, for family, friends or business, but rarely find time to sew for us! So, someone said, "Hey, we should give ourselves permission to make something just for ourselves."

People made different things, clothes, totes, lounge wear--often a project that had been sitting around for a while waiting to be finished.

Here's my project:
It's a large tote bag, with a zip top and two side pockets. One side pocket has a zipper, one is open.

Have you done any projects for yourself lately?

Tornado Outbreak

2011-04-28T05:01:00.001-07:00

The above report is from Associated Press on YouTube. The tornado outbreak in the southeast over the past couple of days is one of the worst in US history, with over 100 deaths reported so far and countless others left injured or homeless.

In the past, I would have seen reports on television or heard them on the radio, probably said a few prayers for the people involved, and then gotten on with my day. Gotten on with my day because it would have seemed far away, and assuming I didn't know anyone there, it would have remained a distant news story. A tragic story to be sure, but not one that would affect me personally.

With the internet, however, the world seems much smaller. I was online last night following the story and constantly checking in with people I've never met in person--people I probably will never meet in person, but people I nevertheless consider friends.

My first thoughts on waking to the sounds of thunder this morning, were of my friends in other parts of the country and of those who spent last night frantically trying to reach relatives in hard hit areas. As quickly as I could get online, I looked for good news, and found some, but found that others were still looking for loved ones.

Sometimes I hear people say that the internet is impersonal, that you can't have real friends that you've never met. I disagree. The internet has introduced me to people all over the world and my concern for them, in both joy and tragedy, is very real.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those picking up the pieces of their lives this morning.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

Miscellaneous Goings On

2011-04-26T03:48:00.000-07:00

The above birdbath was created by my daughter at spring break camp. She loved putting it in our butterfly garden, where we've planted loads of flowers that butterflies and hummingbirds like--such as lantana, butterfly bush and clematis. The birdbath is decorated with a flower (not a dragonfly-don't ask me how I know that).

The vegetable garden is tilled and ready to plant, if we can just find the time to get the seeds in the ground. That's probably a project for my son and me later this week.

And, this time of year, Frodo the Wonder Yorkie becomes Frodo the Mighty Lizard Hunter. He's hot on the trail of ...something.

Our Weekend

2011-04-25T03:46:00.000-07:00

We had a busy weekend. My husband and a friend spent part of Friday and much of Saturday working on the fencing for the goats. So far, they have an area for Abby the Ginormous Dog and a bit for the goats.

We also had an Easter sunrise service, with our home church group, at the top of the hill near our house. My husband sang and did a brief message on the meaning of the day. After that, we all headed back to the house for breakfast.

The children colored eggs and had an egg hunt (not the same eggs, in case you were worried).

Nothing quite like a little girl hunting eggs in a homemade dress and rubber boots.

Finally, we went to visit family for a late afternoon meal. My brother-in-law makes the best ham (pun intended). When we got home, the chickens had been busy making eggs. And they colored them nicely too.

Easter

2011-04-24T03:10:00.000-07:00

2011-04-23T04:23:00.000-07:00

The mudroom is getting so close to being done, I can hardly stand it. The light fixture is up and the trim is almost finished. Trouble is, the big saw is outside and it rained like crazy yesterday, so no more work got done.

Frodo the Wonder Yorkie was in desperate need of a haircut. He could hardly wait to get in his carrier for the trip to the groomer.

Ah, much better now.

Finally, the chickens are starting to lay again. They seem to have taken the past six weeks off, laying only one or two eggs a day. Well, this week they have picked up the pace. Yesterday, there were seven eggs!

Here are the day's eggs, washed and ready to be put into a carton. Many people who have a home flock do not wash eggs until they are ready to eat them. A freshly laid egg has on it's surface something called bloom, which forms a sort of protective coating and helps keep the egg fresh longer. However, when we share eggs with others, they are not usually so thrilled with the, um, "residue" which is often on them. So, we give the eggs a quick rinse.

How's your weekend so far?

Good Friday

2011-04-22T05:50:00.000-07:00